Thursday, August 24, 2006

Details of Consumer Bill annouced

Details of Major New Consumer Bill Announced
New protections for consumers and overhaul of structures marks biggest reform in 30 years Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Thursday 24 August 2006

http://www.entemp.ie/press/2006/20060824.htm

Extract:

False Claims about Goods or Services

It is a misleading commercial practice under the Directive to give information that is false or in any way deceptive about a good or service where this affects consumer decisions. Though the matter has not been tested in the courts, it is generally accepted that false or misleading claims about property other than rental accommodation are not covered by existing Irish legislation. The new legislation will cover false or deceptive claims about houses or other property. It will also provide that misleading omissions as well as actions can be unfair commercial practices where these affect consumer decisions - again this is a provision not expressly found in current legislation.

[The Directive refers to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD), Directive 2005/29/EC -http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/fair_bus_pract/index_en.htm]